Happy1K1nob1: Thanks man.
Chapter
I shook my head to try and get rid of the water. I felt like a wet dog…not very pleasant getting drenched and forced into a cold, abandoned mine, that was filled with corpses. My hand gripped the bow tighter…only for me to remember that I lacked the ammunition to use it, so with a heavy sigh I tucked it into my quiver, so it wasn't occupying my hands.
Gandalf was at the front, leading the way through the tunnels, Gimli was being comforted by Merry and Pippin, while Aragon stood by Boro-
"Are you alright?"
Momentarily surprised, I look down to see Frodo staring at me, his face pale and his normally curly black hair was plastered to his forehead.
I knew that I looked no better; however I nodded my head before patting the Hobbits shoulder, "I'm fine Frodo. You shouldn't be asking that question."
Frodo bowed his head, "I still owe you thanks for removing me from that creatures attack. As well as saving my life from the Nazgûl. "
I shook my head, "It's only one now, you scored one debt when you cut off that tentacle."
Frodo nodded, "Then I will strive to…score the last debt."
I chuckled, "Ok then."
Frodo went forward to where Sam was walking. The moment Sam and Frodo started to talk and were no longer looking, I sighed before running my fingers through my wet hair, causing it to stand up.
I had no weapons I was that efficient with, my daggers were sound but I wasn't as good with them. I had no arrows for my quiver, so I had unstrung the bow and placed it into the quiver to carry it; I had my hand always near my cane in case I needed to pull it out quickly.
I hate to admit it, but I was really nervous.
I was difficult to see with only Gandalf's crystal light, not to mention how creepy everything looked.
As we walked, I shivered slightly. Right, I was cold.
I still had the change of clothes in my bag, so when we stopped for the night I would change.
If we could tell when it was night.
I walked through an archway, to see Gandalf holding up his staff light, several stone paths were made, on the edges of the room or making small bridges. Peering over the edge I see that you couldn't see the bottom.
My hand twitched to my cane again.
Why didn't Middle Earth have railings?!
I heard a scraping noise, quickly grabbing my cane I turned to see that Aragon had rocks in his hands, as he hovered over an empty torch. He continued to scrape the rocks together for a few more seconds before a spark formed. After a few minutes, a small fire had formed in the torch and quickly grew.
It helped illuminate the place, but not by much.
Picking it up, he hoisted it over his head to see more.
I took a shaky breath, "Which way?" I asked.
Gandalf looked to the left, and started making his way along a path on a wall, taking careful steps so he wouldn't fall.
I swallowed, my eyes yet again flicking into the darkness.
"Are you alright?"
I jumped as Aragon placed a hand on my shoulder.
I shook my head, "This place gives me the creeps, I'm really jumpy."
Aragon let out a noise of understanding, "Breath. We'll get through this."
I hope your right.
Finally we stopped, there was a collapsed tunnel that went in slightly deep, however it was sheltered and we had a good look on the outside.
Aragon started working on the fire, while Boromir let down his things; the Hobbits and Gimli did the same while Legolas stood outside.
"Let me make a clothes line," the Gondorian said, "So we do not have to keep these wet garments on any longer, and we can warm."
Part of me wanted to wait with the others, to warm up by the fire so I could fall asleep. However my paranoia was still buzzing, so I went out to where Legolas was; the elf had his bow in hand, and hardly looked at me as I approached.
"Anything?" I asked.
Legolas didn't speak for a few moments, "These mines are filled with a hollow wind. The spirits of the lost wander these halls in grief…and a shadow lurks near…one I cannot see."
I blink, well that was helpful.
"Excellent," I deadpan.
I stayed out with the elf, who had lowered his bow but kept watching the outside. I heard a crackling come from the inside of the tunnel, but I ignored it.
We needed to keep watch.
But I was wet…and it was cold…which could get me sick…
Shaking my head, I resolve that getting sick wouldn't help the group in the long run, so I turned back around and went into the cave.
The Hobbits were eating pieces of bread and cheese while Gandalf was sitting on a rock, his sword on his lap a he smoked his pipe. However, both Aragon and Boromir were sitting in nothing but a tunic and breeches, while their other clothing was hanging on the line…drenched.
My boots squelched on the rock as I removed my tunic and hung it on the line as well, leaving my bare chest in open air.
"Cal!" Merry said, "You're going to catch the cold if you-"
"Give me a few minutes," I say.
Standing behind the line, I quickly grabbed my bag and I took out the spare clothes, once I had them out on the bare line, I quickly stripped out of the rest of my clothes, (As the other hanging clothes and cloaks covered the lower part of my body) before putting on my other, Earth clothes.
Once I was dressed, I took the elven belt and re-attached it to my waist, pulled on the quiver, and put my cane on the belt before walking back out.
Everyone stared at me.
"Er…Calder," Frodo began.
"Yeah?" I asked, sitting down and reaching for a piece of fruit.
"What is that?" He asked, pointing at my shirt.
I then see that I the clothes I was wearing were pretty weird.
I had on a pair of well-worn jeans that were ripped at placed lower than the knee, I also was wearing my athletic shoes, that had the cartoon imprint of a raccoon on them, and similar gloves; finally I was wearing a ocean blue shirt, that had a storm cloud over an ocean, underneath a jet black trench coat.
I grinned at them, memories of came swarming back into my head. Memories of the skyline of Paris, the smell of smoke from chimneys and pizza around a kitchen table, the wind blowing through my fur…
"Cal?"
I blinked, "What?"
Merry points at my clothes, "What…are those?"
I chuckled, "Clothing."
"They hardly seem adequate," Gandalf said, puffing on his pipe.
Boromir put a hand on the trench coat, "So soft…and smooth. Like velvet…"
I pulled away slightly, "Well…my people weren't exactly very…wool and furs."
With that, Gandalf spoke again, "We must rest now. We still have three more days."
As we all got in a comfortable position and everyone started to drift off, I didn't move…just stare at the rock ceiling, I noticed that Frodo was looking around at everyone, as his eyes approached me I closed my eyes and feigned being asleep. After a few minutes, I cracked my eyes open, to see that Frodo was looking at something in his hand.
Oh no.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling…much more comfortable wearing these than my Middle Earth clothes…maybe what they meant to me.
We continued down the walkway, however there were now ladders and buckets hanging on chains.
As we went, I noticed that there were white trails of something in the rock walls…maybe a kind of mineral.
"Gandalf," I say, "What is this?"
Gandalf looks, rubbing his hand over the rock, before turning to us.
"The wealth of Moria was not in gold…or jewels…"
He lowers his staff over the edge of the walkway, "But mithril.
I hesitantly peered over the edge.
There were numerous bridges, walkways, chains and buckets…all hanging below. I noticed that while Gandalf's staff did increase the light, it only showed that there was a very long way down.
I noticed that Sam was getting very close to the edge; I quickly pressed a hand over his chest, "Careful Sam."
When he looked over, his face paled, "I'm going…to stay back here."
Nothing wrong with that, some people weren't all that good with heights.
As we walked, Gandalf spoke again, "Bilbo once received a set of mithril rings that Thorin gave him."
Gimli let out a sound of surprise, "That was a kingly gift!"
"Yes. I never did tell him," Gandalf continued, "But it's worth was greater than the value of the Shire."
"Wow," Pippin whispered.
I frowned, "How big is the Shire?" I asked.
Gandalf chuckled, "Your sister said its size was roughly that off Virginia…wherever that is."
My eyes widened in surprise.
After another night, and noticing that Frodo once again didn't sleep; we were up again, this time climbing up a large staircase…and I mean large, like the steps of an old Mayan temple.
A very...creepy staircase, with corpses decorating the sides, and old dusty books as well, after half an hour of climbing, we reached the top.
Three doorway's stood left, right and center.
Gandalf was standing there, looking at them in worry.
"I have no memory of this place."
Great.
Which lead to now, as I was sitting down near one of the doors in front of Gandalf who was also sitting down, smoking his pipe and looking at the three doorways. Aragon and Boromir were sitting on the steps while Legolas was leaning against a rock, not far from the other two men. While the three Hobbits were talking together, Frodo was sitting slightly away from everyone else.
I remembered Jason…
Getting up from the doorway, I walked up to Frodo and sat beside him, "Hey."
He looked up slightly surprised, "Greetings."
"Frodo…" I began softly, "Why didn't you sleep last night…or the night before?"
He looked at me surprised and slightly scared.
"I have recently noticed," I say, "Is there anything that we need to know. I get that this Ring is powerful, and the power it holds."
Frodo looks down, "I…yes. Its getting heavier," he said.
I nodded, "If you ever need to talk about it. Talk to me or Gandalf, alright?"
Once the Hobbit nodded, I patted his shoulder and was about to get up, when I heard a noise.
Peering over the edge, I see that a form was climbing up the rocks before disappearing from sight.
"What is it?" he asked.
I shook my head, "Nothing…why don't you sit by Sam?"
With that, I hop down and quickly go up to where Gandalf was sitting.
"Something is following us," I say calmly.
Gandalf's eyes never strayed from the doorways, "I am aware, it's…a creature, known as Gollum."
I blinked, that bizarre creature form Mirkwood? The one who escaped from the elves?
"He's been following us for three days now," Gandalf continued.
"…how?" I asked.
Gandalf took a puff from his pipe, "He is the reason Frodo has been forced onto this quest," the old wizard stated, "He escaped from the elves…only to be recaptured by orcs, and tortured for information."
Riddles in the Dark.
Bilbo is different now. After we escaped from the Misty Mountain, Bilbo reveals to me that he engaged a bizarre creature in a game of riddles; I have to give points to Bilbo for engaging into a game of riddles in the dark. How he got it, he never did say, but I suppose that's his business isn't it.
"Then why is he here?" I asked.
"The Ring of course," The wizard said calmly, "he will never get rid of his need for it."
I remembered the strong pull on the Ring when I touched the chain, "He wants it…but he hates it, right?"
Gandalf nodded, "Indeed. He was once known as Sméagol…until the Ring found him, before it drove him mad."
I sat down next to the older man, "So what should we do about him?"
"My heart tells me that Gollum has a part to play yet, for good or ill…before this is over."
I sighed, "You really think he does?"
Gandalf nodded.
"Then we need to get out of here."
SO between creatures, goblins, and the Balrog, I wanted to get out of here. Get back outside to…
Air.
"Gandalf," I say, "Smell."
Gandalf blinked, "Smell…ah!"
He looked towards the far left door, "It's that way! Good thinking!"
I grinned, "Fresh air!"
"He remembered!" I heard Merry say.
"No," Gandalf said, "but the air doesn't smell so foul down here."
I tap Merry's shoulder, "This place is getting air, or else we couldn't breathe, so the fresher it is, means that we're close to a vent…or exit."
With that, we started to descend a long staircase, after a few more minutes, we were walking out of another doorway, and into a larger room, where large fallen rocks lay.
"Let me risk a little more light."
Gandalf raised his staff into the air, as I walked down the steps, my jaw lowered as I stared.
It wasn't a room, it was a massive hall. With stone pillars that melded into the floors and into the ceiling high above, the hall itself stretched out for ages.
"Behold..." Gandalf said, "the great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf."
With that we walked for several more hours before we called it a night…again.
More walking, I took that time to start flipping a dagger in my hand, a way to test my hand eye coordination.
"You may want to stop that lad."
I look to see Gimli looking at me warily, "I knew a dwarf who did that all the time…then the knife pierced his hand."
I quickly stopped flipping the knife and returned it to my belt.
Gimli smiled, "Or not. It was just a rumor."
I glared at the dwarf, "Not. Funny."
He chuckled, however I noticed that he turned his head slightly, I followed his gaze to see a pair of wooden doors wide open, and corpses strewn around.
Gimli let out a gasp before rushing towards the door, instinct kicked in and I rushed after the dwarf.
"Gimli! Calder!"
Gimli rushed into the room, me close at his heels, only to slow as the dwarf stopped, "No…"
He fell to his knees, murmuring "No" in front of a slab of stone, with a light streaming onto it.
I walked up to the tomb, runes were lined near the top. Walking forward, I peered at them.
I recognized these, they were Dwarven runes.
As I read what was said, my own face went grim. Looking up, I see the others streaming in, Gandalf walking up with his staff clunking on the ground. His eyes went to the runes, but I held out my hand.
"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria," I said, gesturing to the runes.
Balin was one of the dwarves that traveled with the Company of Thorin Oakenshield.
Gandalf said something, but I wasn't listening, I was busy looking at a dwarven corpse. Now I get that these things are disgusting, but I still noticed as this one had its bone hands clutching a large journal.
Squatting down, I hesitantly lifted the claw from the journal before wiping off the cobwebs. I looked at Gandalf, who removed his hat and handed it and his staff to a nearby Pippin before coming next to me; as I opened the book, dirt and a few pages fell out. Gandalf took part of the book and blew on it, causing more dust to fly off the page, and making the runes more legible.
"Can I?" I asked the old wizard, "I need some practice."
Gandalf nodded.
I peer at the book, "They have…the bridge…and the second hall. We have…barred the…gates…but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums…drums, in the deep."
The next part was much harder to make out, but Gandalf took over. Flipping the page, I saw that there was only half a page worth of writing.
"We cannot get out. A Shadow, moves in the dark…"
A scourge of fire or a demon of terror.
"We cannot get out…"
Gandalf looked up, "They are coming."
BANG!
I whirled around, to see Pippin move away from a headless skeleton, sitting on a well.
For a single moment, nothing happened…
Then the body fell back, rattling a chain as it went
In a flash, I darted towards skeleton, I knew that it was too late, but I could try to reduce the sound. Grabbing the chain and metal bucket it was attached to, I pushed it over the edge of the well.
A loud clattering sounded from the well, echoing loudly everywhere. Pippin winced every time it made a noise, before it ended in a final "BOOM!" and everything slowly went to silence.
Nobody moved, after a few moments there were sounds of relief.
Gandalf shut the journal, "Fool of a-" the wizard began.
"SHH!"
I pressed my fingers against my lips, "Don't assume that went unheard…" I whisper, "Unless you're positive."
I listened carefully…
Boom…
My eyes snapped open with horror.
Boom…
It wasn't long before everyone heard the sound of the drums.
Boom, Boom.
Boom Boom Boom.
Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom.
Then a loud…cry was heard, it was high…and like a hunter.
"Orcs!" Legolas shouted.
Boromir raced towards the doors.
Bad idea!
Rushing towards him, I grabbed his collar, and not too soon as two arrows pierced the area where his head was.
"Don't ever do-"
A shiver ran down my neck, instantly I turned and managed to snatch an arrow from the air.
"You were saying," Boromir said.
I threw the arrow down and moved behind the doors, "Yeah yeah."
As we moved the battered doors shut, I heard another noise, like a roar.
Boromir sighed, "They have a cave-troll."
"A what?" I asked.
"Thick-skinned and brainless, but the size of a inn."
Great.
A sharp whistle was heard, I looked to see Aragon toss me a large axe.
"Get the lower parts," Boromir says as he shoves an axe through two vertical metal pieces…where a bar would be placed.
I saw that the handles stretched downwards, so I shoved the axe handle through them. Turning back around, I reached out my hands and Aragon threw me another axe; I stuffed that through the bars as well.
I quickly backed away and started reaching for my bow…
No arrows.
Cursing, I pulled out my cane and extended it fully, grabbing the staff in both hands.
Metal sounded against metal as everyone else drew out weapons.
Aragon and Legolas drew their bows and had arrows nocked while Boromir had his sword and shield out.
Gimli growled, "Let them come. There is one dwarf in Moria that still draws breath."
I shook my head, "Focus Gimli, don't let that get to you."
I'd seen what anger could do to a person in a fight. It got you killed.
The points of spears, swords and axe blades pierced the door, a piece of wood cracked open and a tip poked through the hole.
Legolas shot an arrow at the hole, and a screech was heard.
More holes appeared, and more arrows went flying.
Then the doors burst open.
Read, Have a Great Day and God Bless
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